Grammar
Subject of the Sentence
What is the Subject of the Sentence?
Understanding of the subject of the sentence is an important part of writing effectively. It can mean the difference between a good and bad quality piece of writing.
The subject of a sentence is simply what or who the sentence is about, though many people get confused when it comes to subject-verb agreement and what constitutes the subject in other types of sentences such as commands and questions.
In order to find a subject, you have to first identify the verb in the sentence, then ask yourself “who or what” is doing this action – that will be the subject. Knowing this can help you understand how best to word your sentences so that you never need to worry about making any mistakes!
Subject of the Sentence Rules
Learning these four critical rules when using the Subject of the Sentence will help communication become clearer and easier. With these four rules firmly entrenched in one’s grammar skillset, any English speaker can properly construct sentences with ease!
Rules | Explanation |
Application | Cases of nouns should be applied in order to build meaningful sentences – cases like possessive, nominative, objective and genitive can all determine how a sentence is formed. |
Capitalization | Proper nouns need to be capitalized when written; failure to do so could create confusion or suggest incorrect punctuation. |
Distinctions | All English nouns have gender distinctions; for instance, all animate beings and things such as vehicles are classified as either masculine or feminine. |
Pluralization | Most singular nouns must be made plural in order to enable them to join sentences with other words. |
Examples of the Subject of the Sentence
The subject of the sentence is the word or phrase that identifies who or what is doing, performing, or triggering an action. The subject usually comes before the verb in the sentence and can be a:
- Noun
- Pronoun
- Gerund
- Infinitive
- Clause
Examples of the subject of the sentence are: “The cat chased its tail,” “John read his book” and “We must take an afternoon break.”
Each subject in this sentence is either a noun (cat, John, we) or a pronoun (its, his), and they all do something; chase, read and take respectively. Understanding the subject of the sentence helps readers better follow and comprehend sentences as one of the most important parts of constructing a successful grammatical structure.
Subject of the Sentence Exercises with Answers
Exercises:
- _ grow slowly.
- _ plays the guitar.
- The _ hid behind the sofa.
- It seems as though _ has forgotten to do their homework.
- _ can’t sleep past 6 am.
Answers:
- Cacti grow slowly.
- Tony plays the guitar.
- The cat hid behind the sofa.
- It seems as though everyone has forgotten to do their homework.
- Mother can’t sleep past 6 am.
Subject of the Sentence List
When it comes to cases of nouns, there are seven major types that people should know.
Everyone | A noun depicting all people. |
You | A personal noun. |
He | A masculine noun. |
She | A feminine noun. |
Animal | A noun that is based on a creature. |
Vegetable | A noun depicting food. |
Mineral | A noun depicting earth material. |
Advice for ESL Students & English Language Learners
Being an English language learner can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. Learning a subject as complex as a language can be intimidating, so the first thing to remember is to start small and focus on one subject at a time.
Start with basic grammar and spelling rules and continue making steady progress from there. It’s important to practice speaking and writing in your new language regularly, with native speakers or using available resources like online dictionaries or webpages focused on teaching English as a second language. Immersing yourself in the subject, like reading books written in the new language or watching movies without subtitles, can also help you learn faster. With dedication and consistency, you’ll be able to reach your goals and become proficient in this subject soon!
Additionally, it is important for learners to properly understand predicate noun and nominative case of nouns.
Common Mistakes Made by English Learners
One of the most common mistakes made by English learners is subject-verb agreement. In English, the subject must agree with the verb in number, meaning that a singular subject requires a singular verb and a plural subject requires a plural verb. This rule can become particularly complicated when modifiers are added to the subject or when negative words are used in the sentence. While native English speakers make subject-verb errors from time to time, these mistakes are especially common for those in the process of learning English as another language.
Common Mistakes:
1. Incorrect Tense
Why it Happens
Not having a firm grasp on correct noun usage can confuse your statements. This can cause you to use the wrong nouns and misconstrue your message.
Correct Use
When speaking English, you would use a noun that reflects the subject in question. Keep context in mind when selecting your nouns.
2. Lack of Nouns
Why it Happens
The easiest mistake is leaving out nouns when needed. Failing to use these in phrases can lead others to misinterpret what you are trying to express.
Correct Use
Nouns join words to a person, place, or thing – for example, ‘the cat meowed’ or ‘I love pasta’.
3. Inconsistency
Why it Happens
People forget how they described something before and change the context in a contradictory manner. This confuses the reader.
Correct Use
Be sure that your nouns remain consistent throughout your writing. There should be no sudden shifts from ‘woman’ to ‘girl’ unless there was a clear shift in the thing being described.
4. Incorrect Usage
Why it Happens
You don’t know which nouns to use, so you use too many and it confuses the statement.
Correct Use
Using too many nouns can make your writing sound monotonous and can also lead to viewers losing interest. Therefore it is important to focus on expressing yourself clearly and effectively with them.
Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes:
- To avoid subject-verb agreement mistakes, the subject of the sentence must always agree with the verb in number. This subject-verb agreement is essential to correctly constructing a sentence.
- To make sure the subject and verb are in agreement, ask yourself if the subject is singular or plural. The subject should always determine the form of the verb used in the sentence.
- Additionally, pay close attention to words which may be misleading such as everybody, nobody, and each; these words appear to be singular but are actually considered plural when referring to people as a collective unit and therefore require a plural verb form.
- Making sure that subject and verb match can help eliminate common errors in sentences.
Learning the Subject of the Sentence Strategies and Best Practices
Knowing how to identify the subject of a sentence is a fundamental part of understanding grammar. Thankfully, mastering this skill can be attained with some basic strategies and best practices.
Before attempting to locate the subject in complex sentences, it is best to familiarize oneself with identifying subject-verb agreement, as well as subject-pronoun agreement. After perfecting these skills, one can then apply them in context to determine a subject’s whereabouts. Reading comprehension techniques can take practice but are essential for establishing knowledge about certain sentence structures. Additionally, keep reading for more useful tips:
Tip 1: Study a List
Why it helps
Learning the various forms and using them properly in speaking and writing is easier than it seems with daily practice. A list can simplify this process and make it seem less daunting.
Daily Life Example
The best way to learn to use nouns correctly is to study a list of nouns and their usages, and then practice writing sentences with them.
Tip 2: Practice Reading
Why it helps
Exposing yourself to nouns hidden between other words can help you identify them faster and more accurately.
Daily Life Example
To ensure that you understand how frequently a type of noun should be used it’s important to practice reading with them as well, so the meanings become clear. So keep a book of your choice on hand and highlight every noun you come across.
Tip 3: Everyday Conversations
Why it helps
By applying the nouns exercise to everyday conversations, you’ll find these words easy to remember and use in the near future.
Daily Life Example
Take your time when speaking to people. Take note of the nouns they use, and try and repeat them back in different contexts. You can also do this from the comfort of your home by recording yourself or using an AI assistant.
Subject of the Sentence Frequently Asked Questions
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